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MEDIA CONTACT:
Workforce Olivia Almagro
Tel. 305.594.7615 Ext.
274
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties’ Unemployment Rate Level at 14.2

(MIAMI, September 17, 2010) —The unemployment rate in August 2010 (not
seasonally adjusted) in the South Florida Workforce region in Miami-Dade and Monroe
counties was 14.2. This was up 2.7 percentage points from the year-ago rate of 11.5
percent and was 1.8 percentage points higher than the state unemployment rate of
12.4 percent. Out of a labor force of 1,352,046, there were 192,532 unemployed
residents in the region.

During August 2010, the unemployment rates in the two counties that comprise the
South Florida Workforce Region were 14.4 percent in Miami-Dade and 8.5 percent in
Monroe. Monroe County’s unemployment rate was 1.3 percentage points higher than
the year-ago rate of 7.2 percent. Miami-Dade County’s unemployment rate was 2.8
percentage points higher than the year-ago rate of 11.6 percent.
“In spite of an increase in the unemployment rate, there is optimism in the steady
increase of employment opportunities that have become available from the previous
year. At South Florida Workforce, we continue to steer job seekers to employment
and training opportunities”, said Rick Beasley, executive director for South Florida
Workforce Investment Board.
The Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall metro division gained more jobs in education and
health services (+2,900 jobs) than any other metro area in Florida from August 2009
to August 2010. The area’s over-the-year growth rate in professional and business
services (+1.2 percent) was better than the statewide growth rate in this industry
(+0.2 percent).

In August 2010, total nonagricultural employment in the Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall

metropolitan division was 969,900, down slightly over the year. Statewide,
employment increased 0.3 percent over the same time period.

About South Florida Workforce Investment Board

South Florida Workforce is a public-private partnership that establishes state and
federally funded workforce development and training policies for Miami-Dade and
Monroe counties. Additionally, South Florida Workforce services and resources are
available to everyone at no cost through a network of career centers located
throughout the region.
For more information on the Miami-Dade and Monroe counties’ unemployment
outlook, please contact South Florida Workforce at 305-594-7615 ext. 274 or visit
www.southfloridaworkforce.com.
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South Florida Workforce. is an equal opportunity employer/program.

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.